Loose-leaf binder.



E. SHIBLDS.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.11, 191s.

1,121,767. Patented 1390.231914.

WITNESSES 'He unPRIS PETERS COI. FHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGwN. D. C.

EDWARD SHIELDS, 0F BRADDOCK, PENNSYLVANIA.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

Application filed January 11, 1913. Serial No. 741,425.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDWARD SHIELDs,-a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Braddock, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful improvement in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, form- `ing part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a transverse section showing one form of my improved binder, the section being taken through the binding strips. Fig. is a horizontal section taken longitudinally through the top binding strip. Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal section taken on the line III- H1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the clutch members. Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the keeper members. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modication; and Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of a portion of an upper binding strip and showing another modification.

My invention has relation to loose leaf binders; and is designed to provide a binder of simple and convenient character in which the upper cover member and Vits binding strip can be quickly and securely locked in place without strain on the binding posts.

The nature of my invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings; which will now be described, it being premised, however, that various changes can be made in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts without departingfrom the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claim.

Referring first to that form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the numerals 2 and 3 designate the upper and lower cover members, respectively, of the binder. These members are flexibly connected to the respective binding strips -1 and 5 by means of the hinge portions 6. 7 designates the usual posts, of any suitable character, which are secured in the lower binding strip 5, and which extend upwardly through the openings punched in the leaves or sheets 8 to be bound, and through openings in the upper binding strip 4. This upper binding strip is made hollow for a portion of its length; and within such hollow portion, each of the posts 7 is engaged by a clutch member 9. Each of these clutch members has a downwardly bent end portion 10 which engages a suitable keeper l1. The body portion of each clutch member has an aperture 12 therethrough which is of slightly larger diameter' than the diameter of the post 7. lVhen the clutch members are in the inclined positions, shown in Fig. 1, it will be seen that they bite the posts V7 to form clutches which will effectively prevent any separation of the two binding strips while, at the same time, they permit the two binding strips to be pressed more closely together. The clutch members are held in clutching position by means of the bowed spring 13. 1/-1 is a clutch releasing or lifting plate, whose end portions 15 extend underneath the respective clutch members for lifting engagement therewith. Attached to this releasing or lifting member is a button 16 whose shank extends upwardly through the top member of the binding strip in position to be engaged by the fingers. To release the upper binding strip, all that is necessary is to lift on the button 16, thereby raising the free ends of the clutch members into approximately horizontal position and thereby release their clutching engagement with the posts. In locking the binder, all that is necessary is to force the top binding strip firmly down into contact with the assembled leaves or sheets and the clutch members will automatically lock it in this position.

In the modication shown in Fig. 6, instead of a single clutch releasing or lifting member 11i, I employ the two rocking or tilting clutch-releasers 1in, each of which has an arm extending underneath the free end of one of the clutch members 9. The clutch releasing members l-l fulcrum at 14h, and

are loosely mounted on the vertical pins l-Lc.'

The upwardly extending inner ends of these members support a vertically movable plate 17 having an opening therein for the end of a suit-able key 18. 19 is a spring extending over the plate 17, with an opening therethrough for the key, and with its end portions bearing upon the clutch members, as in Fig. 1. In this form of my invention, in order to release the binder, it is necessary to have a suitable key which can be inserted in the manner shown in Fig. 6. Then the key is so inserted, it is pressed downwardly, thereby depressing the plate 17 to tilt the 'clutch releasing members on their fulcrums and thus move the clutch members to releasing positions.

Fig. 7 shows a modied form of clutch member 9b, in Which, instead of having an opening therethrough, Whose edges form clutch surfaces, it has a slot 2O extending therein from one edge to engage the post.

My invention provides a binder of very simple and eiicient construction, which can be readily and conveniently operated. The nature of the locking means is such that there is no strain exerted on the posts tending to spread or bend them, or to tear or distort the 'sheets or leaves.

lVhat I claim is:

A loose leaf binder having tWo posts, an upper binding strip through Which the posts extend, locking Clutch members Within said binder and engaging the posts, a lifting 20 EDWARD SHIELDS.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. PARMELEE, H. M. CORWIN.

- Copie; of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.y

Washington, D. C. 

